Composer of the Week: Beethoven: Phoenix Rising

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Composer of the Week

Music: Classical

Composer of the Week - Brand

An informative guide to composers' lives and their music.

An informative and accessible guide to composers' lives and their music.

Composer of the Week: Beethoven Unleashed: Phoenix Rising: Rock Bottom

Rock Bottom

Beethoven Unleashed: Phoenix Rising

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, Beethoven Unleashed: Phoenix Rising, Rock Bottom

Donald Macleod explores Beethoven's life and music through the years 1813-1815.

Beethoven is reeling from the worst year of his life. Lonely and drained, he hits rock bottom. But even here - at his lowest low - his generosity and strong morals shine through

Donald Macleod finds Beethoven reeling from the worst year of his life - 1812. With fate seemingly against him, the composer begins to crumble, and lonely and drained, he hits rock bottom. But even in this - the lowest of moments - his generosity and strong morals shine through.

This week, Donald Macleod explores Ludwig van Beethoven’s life through the years of 1813-1815 – a time of great change throughout Europe as Napoleon was overthrown. For Beethoven, it was undoubtedly the most successful period of his entire career, as he began, at last, to receive public recognition for his music. However, these years also saw him slump to an artistic nadir as he succumbed to the call for patriotic crowd-pleasers in the wake of this massive political change.

Composer of the Week is returning to the story of Beethoven’s life and music throughout 2020. Part of Radio 3’s Beethoven Unleashed season marking the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth.

Triumphal March for Kuffner’s Tarpeja, WoO 2a
Swedish Chamber Orchestra
Thomas Dausgaard (conductor)

Trio in B flat major, Op 97 “Archduke”- I. Allegro Moderato 
Leonid Kogan (violin)
Emil Gilels (piano)
Mstislav Rostropovich (cello)

An die Hoffnung, Op 94
Matthias Goerne (baritone)
Jan Lisiecki (piano)

Quartet in C major, Op 59’3 “Razumovsky” - II. Andante con moto quasi Allegretto
Tokyo String Quartet

Incidental Music for the Ruins of Athens - Overture; Chorus of Dervishes; March and Chorus "Schmukt die Altare"
Beecham Choral Society
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Thomas Beecham (conductor)


Producer: Sam Phillips for BBC Cymru Wales

Composer of the Week: Beethoven Unleashed: Phoenix Rising

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Donald Macleod explores Beethoven's life through the years 1813-1815, the most successful period of his entire career, as his music began, at last, to receive public recognition.

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